Card catalogue tray of molded plastic construction

ABSTRACT

A card catalogue tray of molded plastic construction is adapted to be interchangeable with wooden trays for the same purpose. To facilitate molding of the tray proper as a one piece rugged thin shell structure a drawer pull is provided as a separately formed piece assembled with the front wall and retained in position by a metal slide track mounted functionally and reinforcingly in a groove in the bottom of the tray and latched in position therein. A card-retaining rod has a front end manipulating head member detachably retained at the front of the tray in association with the drawer pull. All of the assembled elements are in quick digital assembly and release relation requiring no tools. Outer sidewall panels of the tray are resiliently flexible in the lower portions to avoid binding in a cabinet.

United States Patent Inventors CARD CATALOGUE TRAY OF MOLDED PLASTIC CONSTRUCTION 25 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

U.S.Cl 312/189 Int. Cl A47b 63/00 Field olSearch 312/189, 320; 220/223,22.5;287/20.5;409/62 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 818,090 4/1906 Hunter 312/189X 2,860,642 11/1958 Marks et a1. .1 220/223 3,035,587 5/1962 Schade 312/189 3,260,263 7/1966 Bencene et a1. 312/189 X 3,370,591 2/1968 Coe 220/225 Primary Examiner Patrick D. Lawson A1l0rne vHill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson ABSTRACT: A card catalogue tray of molded plastic construction is adapted to be interchangeable with wooden trays for the same purpose. To facilitate molding of the tray proper as a one piece rugged thin shell structure a drawer pull is provided as a separately formed piece assembled with the front wall and retained in position by a metal slide track mounted functionally and reinforcingly in a groove in the bottom of the tray and latched in position therein. A card-retaining rod has a front end manipulating head member detachably retained at the front of the tray in association with the drawer pull. All of the assembled elements are in quick digital assembly and release relation requiring no tools. Outer sidewall panels of the tray are resiliently flexible in the lower portions to avoid binding in a cabinet.

PATENTED AUG 1 man SHEEI 2 [IF 2 INVENTORS 3 klii /1//4 5. ('04 u/vs Z amen/N5 Jaws/v 6241/ A; kdz/x WAITORNEYS CARD CATALOGUE TRAY OF MOLDED PLASTIC CONSTRUCTION The present application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Ser. No. 662,656, filed Aug. 23, 1967, now abandoned.

This invention relates to Catalogue card trays of molded plastic construction and is more particularly concerned with such trays which are interchangeable with wood trays in the cabinets therefor.

Card catalogue trays have heretofore generally been of wooden construction and to a lesser extent of sheet metal construction. The wooden trays are generally heavy, liable to damage and breakage, separation of joints and the like. Replacement of wooden drawers has therefore been a substantial expected library expense.

In addition, in such wooden drawers the manipulating head or knob of the respective card-retaining rods project from the front of the trays in generally unsightly manner and with knurled edges liable to injure the fingers of the hand of a person manipulating the drawer through the customary metal pull attached to the front face of the drawer. In addition the projecting rod heads are a temptation to mischievous, unauthorized removal of the rods and removal or disarrangement of the cards in the tray.

Sheet metal card tray constructions have not been popular for several reasons among which may be mentioned that they tend to scratch and unduly damage desk tops on which they are carelessly set or pulled across, especially when a corner makes contact with the desk top. Such metal trays are heavy if they are to have sufficient rigidity and if they are made oflight enough stock they lack necessary rigidity. The metal trays are also noisy because of their metallic resonance.

The foregoing and other disadvantages and deficiencies of prior constructions are overcome according to the principles of the present invention, according to which a card catalogue tray of molded plastic construction is adapted to be interchangeable with wooden trays for the same purpose. To facilitate molding of the tray proper as a one piece rugged thin shell structure a drawer pull is provided as a separately formed piece assembled with the front wall and retained in position by a preferably metal slide track mounted functionally and reinforcingly in a groove in the bottom of the tray and latched in position therein. A card-retaining rod has a front end manipulating head member detachable retained at the front of the tray in association with the drawer pull. All of the assembled elements are in quick digital assembly and release relation requiring no tools. Outer sidewall panels of the tray are resiliently flexible in the lower portions to avoid binding in a cabinet.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved card catalogue tray of molded plastic construction in which lightweight, strength, and durability are attained in a new and improved molded plastic shell tray configuration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel molded plastic card tray having a quick-digital assembly of parts which are also digitally releaseable without need for tools.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for effecting assembly and release or removal of components in a molded plastic card catalogue tray construction and which will discourage unauthorized or mischievous tampering but which will permit ready digital, tool-free manipulation by the librarian.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved drawer pull construction for molded plastic card catalogue trays.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved card-retaining slide structure and retaining latch means therefore in a molded plastic card catalogue tray construction.

0 stantially on the line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear sectional elevational detail view taken substantially along the line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmental top plan view of the tray;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevational detail view taken substantially along the line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmental longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line VI-IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmental bottom plan view of the tray; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 4.

A card catalogue tray 10 embodying features of the invention has a tray body 11 which is constructed as a one-piece molded plastic shell which is dimensioned generally in accordance with long established standards related to wooden card catalogue trays so as to be interchangeably used with or instead of wooden card catalogue trays in cabinets provided for the purpose. To this end, the tray body 11 is provided with a mutually reinforcing wall construction of as thin shell section as practicable for the plastic material from which made but yet sturdy, damage-resistant structure comprising vertical partially hollow downwardly opening reinforced walls comprising a front wall 12, opposite longitudinal sidewalls l3 and a rear wall 14, with the outer surfaces of the side and rear walls tapering slightly upwardly and inwardly for molding draft (FIGS. 1 and 4). Desirably, the side and rear walls 13 and 14 are solid in the upper portions thereof and of hollow downwardly opening double wall construction in their lower portions. On their outer sides the rear and sidewalls are preferably flat. Inside the tray, an upwardly slanted reinforcing offset 15 compensates for the double'wall thickness of the lower portion of the rear wall, anda similar reinforcing offset 17 is provided on each of the sidewalls 13. By having the lower portions of the sidewalls hollow and of unconnected double panels, the outer panels of the sidewalls may flex resiliently to avoid binding in the cabinet tracks within which inserted. Further, this unconnected lower outer panel arrangement affords a certain amount of resilient shock proofing or absorption. Above the offset 17 card manipulation clearance is provided along the sidewalls. Any suitable molding plastic material may be employed, a preferred such material being a plastic resin having a high degree of rigidity and stability in the plane of the molded section but desirable flexing resilience across the plane to avoid damaging hardness and brittleness in the tray construction. An example of such a plastic material is an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin available on the market as Cycolac T".

Integral with the upright walls is a bottom wall 18 upon which catalogue cards are supported on edge between the sidewalls 13 in the customary manner. In a strongly reinforced thin section construction, the bottom wall 18 is at a suitable elevation above the lower edges of the inside panels of the vertical walls and has a pattern of transverse and diagonal reinforcing strut ribs 19 on its bottom surface attached to and extending from the vertical wall panels and attached to a longitudinally extending central flat-bottomed rib 20 of substantial width which is formed as a depressed part of the bottom wall and provides an upwardly opening longitudinal channel recess 21 extending the entire length of the tray (FIGS. 4, 6 and 8).

Means are provided for holding cards in an upstanding pack on edge on the bottom wall 18, and herein comprising a preferably metal track member 22 mounted in the recess 21 within the top plane of the bottom wall. Slidably mounted in the track 22 is a base flange 23 of a backup panel or block plate 24 (FIGS. 4 and 6) of known construction having a retaining latch pivoted on a pin 27 to enable selective engagement of a latch finger 28 in any of a series of keeper notches 29 in one of a pair of inwardly directed overhanging retaining and reinforcing flanges 30 along the longitudinal margins of the track member 22. Through this arrangement the backup block 24 is adapted to be adjusted longitudinally along the track 22, to accommodate an expanding or diminishing pack of cards between the backup and the inside of the front wall 12, and to facilitate manipulation of the cards for the librarian working on them.

Means are provided to lock the track member 22 in the recess 21. To this end the inner panel of the rear wall 14 is provided with an opening 31 (FIGS. 6 and 8) aligned with the track recess groove 21 and through which the rear end portion of the track is inserted, desirably into engagement with the outer panel of the rear wall 14 serving as a stop therefor. Thereby, the overhanging edge of the rear wall inner panel provides a shoulder confronting the rear portion of the track 22 and more particularly the flanges 30 thereof to hold the track member down in the groove 21. Retention of the track member 22 against longitudinal displacement toward the front of the tray is desirably effected by means of a releasable latch member 32 provided with a cylindrical latching lug 33 which is received in a complementary circular latch hole 34 in the body web panel or plate of the track member 22 (FIGS. 4 and 6) and a matching aligned circular keeper hole 35 in the bottom wall of the recess 21 provided by the rib 20 (FIGS. 6 and 7). To retain the latch lug 33 releasably in place, the latch member 32 is provided with at least one and preferably a pair of aligned oppositely extending interlock arms 37 of a length to underlie the track flanges 30 and having respective interlock end portions 38 which are engageable within the respective inwardly opening grooves defined by the side flanges of the track member for retaining the latch against upward displacement from its latching relationship to the track member. To retain the arms 37 against inadvertent unlatching, the end portions 38 are raised above the upper surfaces of the remain ing portions of the respective arms 37 and one of the end portions 38 thereby conveniently serves as an interlock detent which is engageable snappingly behind a slightly turned down inner edge lower corner of the unnotched flange 30 of the track member serving as a keeper 39. Snapping of the detent lug into retaining relation behind the keeper edge 39 is facilitated by resilience of the arms 37 which extend in slightly spaced relation above the underlying body web of the track member 22, such as by taking advantage ofa slightly upwardly bowed condition of the longitudinal central portion of the track web (FIG. 8). This affords a generally cantilever overhang of the arm 37 to afford the slight resilient yielding thereof for snapping of the detent lug 38 into and out of engagement with the interlock keeper 39, as effected by manual rotation of the latch member 32 about the axis of the latching lug 33. Enhancement of the latch interlock function of the arms 37, selectively, is attained by having the arms relatively narrow in plan, such as about half as wide as the diameter of the lug 33, and with the arm portion located on a sector of the lug 33 and slightly offset therebeyond as shown in FIG. 6 whereby the central intermediate portion of the arm part engages upon the peak of the upwardly bowed longitudinal central portion of the track web. By having the track latch 32 in the rearmost portion ofthe tray and relatively inconspicuous it will be reasonably unnoticed by the uninformed user of the catalogue cards in the tray. and thus avoid temptation there for unauthorized manipulation of the latch. However, for assembly purposes it is a simple matter after the track member 22 has been mounted within the recess 21 to insert the latch lug 33 into the aligned latch and keeper holes 34 and 35 while the arms 37 are in a more or less front to rear orientation as shown in dash outline in FIG. 4, and then to swing the arms 37 into the transverse position as shown in full lines and wherein the latch is interlocked with and behind the flanges 30 against release until again manipulated to swing the arms out of the interlocked position.

In order to enable a one-shot molding of the tray 11, a finger-pull 40 is separately formed and assembled with the front wall 12. To this end, the finger-pull is constructed as a complete loop having its axis horizontal and projecting forwardly from an integral mounting block 41 which is receptive in assembly within the hollow space provided between the inner and outer panels of the front wall 12. In an advantageous construction, a generally T-groove and head retaining arrangement is provided between the block 41 and the front wall. For this purpose the block 41 is provided at each vertical side with a front margin rabbet 42 of as nearly as practicable the same depth in a front to rear direction as the thickness of the adjacent portions of the outer panel of the front wall 12 alongside a vertical downwardly opening slot 43 (FIGS. 1 and 2) receptive of the pull block 41 by an assembly movement from the lower edge of the panel upwardly. The width of the slot 43 is complementary to the width of the outer portion of the block 41 between the rabbets 42 so that there is a reasonably close sliding fit and a neat minimum joint between the respective vertical edges of the front wall panel defining the slot, and the relationship is such that the front face of the block is as nearly as practicable flush with the outer face of the front wall. inwardly from the slot 43, the hollow front wall 12 is constructed to provide a vertical channel ofa width complementary to the width of the block 41 inwardly from the rabbets 42 and defined at its sides by respective vertical reinforcing webs 44 joining the front and rear panels of the front wall 12 and with the inner panel of the front wall providing the base of the resulting T-groove. To avoid looseness of the pull block in a fully assembled relation with the wall 12, the vertical sides and back surface of the block are desirably slightly tapered toward the top. Although the length of the T-groove is substantially greater than the vertical dimension of the block so that the block will be in an upper portion ofthe front wall in assembly, the confronting surfaces of the webs 44 and the back panel ofthe front wall are complementary in taper to the tapered surfaces of the block. As the block 41 is initially inserted upwardly within the T-groove, it moves quite freely and then as the block reaches its final assembly position, a snug frictional grip is effected between the confronting surfaces. Thereby in the final assembly position, the pull block 41 is as firmly retained as though it were molded integrally with the front wall 12. If necessary, however, the pull block may be readily removed by downward pressure against the pull ring 40. Additional security of retention is attained by continuing the rabbet grooves across the top of the front margin of the block 41 to receive a retaining flange portion 45 (FIGS. 1 and 6) of the upper portion of the front wall immediately below an identification card window 47 in an upwardly extending portion of the front wall.

In its fully assembled position, the pull block 41 is held against unintentional downward displacement by means conveniently comprising a front end terminal flange 48 (FIGS. 5, 6 and 7) which is suitably offset upwardly relative to the base or web body of the track member 22 and which terminal flange projects into underlying relation to the block through an opening 49 in the inner part of the front wall 12 aligned with the track channel groove 21. For this purpose, the block 4] is provided with a downward extension 50 against the lower edge of which the flange 48 bears retainingly. Further, a mutual retaining relationship is thus attained between the block 41 and the track member 22 by the block thus holding the front end portion of the track member against upward displacement from the assembled relationship within the channel 21. Assembly of the track member 22 is effected with the tray after the pull block 41 has been assembled with the front wall 12, by inserting the terminal flange 48 through the opening 49 and under the downward extension 50 while holding the track member in a downwardly and forwardly tilted position and slightly overextended forwardly as permitted by the cutback relationship of the front ends of the flanges30 as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6, whereafter the track member is dropped down into the channel 21 and shifted rearwardly to move its rear end terminal portion through the opening 31 in the rear wall.

Means are provided on the pull block 41 for releasable retention of a retainer head member 51 for a card retaining rod 52 of the sort generally employed to extend through aligned holes in the base portions of catalogue cards to prevent unintentional displacement of the cards from their relative positions in the pack. in a desirable construction, the rod retainer member 51 is of a molded synthetic plastic construction and preferably of a material to match the material of the tray and of the pull ring 40 and pull ring block 41. An assembled connection of the member 51 with the rod 52 is preferably effected by securing a threaded front end portion 53 on the rod into a complementary threaded rearwardly opening blind end bore 54 in the member 51.

Construction of the rod retainer member 51 is such that it can be received within the lower portion of the downwardly openingT-groove in the front wall 12 which is suitably aligned with the card retaining means within the tray and has its axis intersecting'the central longitudinal axis of thetray. To this end, the member 51 comprises a front panel 55 of a width complementary to the front wall slot 43 and has a front face which is flat and in assembly lies as nearly flush as practicable with the front face of the front wall 12 and with lower edge of the panel as nearly as practicable flush with the lower edge of the front panel of the front wall so as to present a neat flush appearance with'the front wall and the front face of the pull block 41.

Means are provided for releasably retaining the rod retainer head 51 in association with the pull block 41. For this purpose, the lower extension 50 of the pull block is constructed as an integral depending frame on the rear portion of the block and in this instance of generally U-shape providing an opening 57 (FIG. 3) therethrough to receive an inwardly extending por tion of the retainer headv 51 which is provided with downwardly projecting rigid detent finger structure 58 (H65. 3, 5, 6 and 7) engageable behind a horizontal keeper bar 59 which comprises a part ofthe lower bar ofthe frame ofthc extension SlLAssembly of the retainer head 51 and the rod 52 is effected by insertingthe rod 52 inwardly through the opening 57 and pressing the retainer head 51 inwardly to cause a generally outwardly facing and upwardly and inwardly sloping cam surface60 on the bar 59-to cam the detent finger structure 58 by means of complementary cam surface 61 thereon over the bar 59 and effect a snapping interengagement of the keeper finger structure '58: inwardly behind the bar 59. Although such detent and keeper interengagement may be effected by a gravitational bias, spring biasing means are preferably provided, in the present instance comprising a semicircular, generally horseshoe-shaped nylon spring member 62 carried by the inner portion of the pull block 41 and arranged to press downwardly on the retainer head 51, and more particularly upon a longitudinally extending central upwardly facing rib 63 thereon which is provided with an upwardly and inwardly facing cam surface 64 engageable with a complementary outwardly and downwardly facing cam surface 65 on the spring ring to cam the spring ring onto the rib. To accommodate the springring62, the back of the pull block I is recessed as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, with a pair of spaced upwardly facing shoulders 67 engaging under the perimeter of the spring ring at the respective opposite sitles of the opening 67 and generally downwardly facing complementarry rigid thrust flanges 68 engaged by the terminal portions of the spring ring and a partition69 between the adjacent ends of the flanges 68 opposing the ends of the Spring ring to retain it against turning out of position..A'substantial spaced relation is afforded between the inner periphery of the spring ring 62 and a hub 70 projecting inwardly on the block 41 and providing support for the flanges 68 and the partition 69 so that the spring ring may yield resiliently when the retainer head 51 is manipulated into position by pressing it inwardly to effect ridingof the detent finger structure 58 over the keeper bar 59 during which maneuver the head 51 must move upwardly within a suitable clearance afforded between the top of the head 5! and the surface of theblock 41 along the top of the opening 57. Upon engagement of the detent finger structure 58 behind the keeper bar 59, backface surface of the retaining head 51 is drawn reasonably firmly against complementary front surface of the frame extension 50. Thereby, the retainer head 51 is held positively in the assembled relationship with the pull block 41, but may be deliberately released when desired to pull the rod 52 by digitally pressing upwardly on the lower portion of the panel 55 in opposition to the spring-62 until the detent finger structure 5 8.-is released from theke'eper bar 59 and the retainer head 51 thereupon pulled outwardly relative to the front of the tray.

Although for purposes of molding draft the sidewalls 13 may, as shown, taper inwardly and upwardly, the frontwall outer panel configuration is desirably of rectangular outline in front elevation. For this purpose the side edges of thefront panel are in planes normal to the bottom and top edges, with a flange portion 71 extending outwardly along such edges along the front.

It will be understood that variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of this invention.

We claim:

1. A card catalogue tray assembly comprising: a one-piece molded plastic tray having upright front, side and rear walls, and a bottom wall;

card holding means including a member separably mounted in said tray;

directly digitally releasable means operable to retain holding means partially in place in said tray;

said

a pull member and means on said front wall and said pull member separably mounting the pull member and responsive to manipulation of the pull member itself to release the pull member for removal from the front wall;

and means on said card-holding means member and said pull member mutually cooperating to complete retention of the card-holding means in the tray and functioning to lock the pull member against unintentional displacement relative to said front wall and being releasable by manipulation of said card-holding means member when said digitally releasable means have been released;

whereby said card-holding means and said pull member are adapted for assembly with and removal from said tray body without the use of any tools.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, said digitally releasable means member and comprising a latch member, and said card-holding means and said tray body having means cooperating retainingly with said latch member.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, said card-holding means member comprising a longitudinal track adjustably supporting a card backup block device, said digitally releasable means comprising overhanging shoulder structure on said rear wall and a rear'end portion of the track engaged under said shoulder structure against upward displacement and from which the track is releasable by direct digital releasing movement, said directly digital releasable means in addition comprising a directly digitally releasable latch member with means on the latch member and the track and said bottom wall cooperating to retain the track against longitudinal displacement relative to the tray.

4. An assembly according to claim I, said card-holding means member comprising a longitudinal track supporting a card backup block device, said pull member comprising a T- block and said front wall having a downwardly and forwardly opening T-groove in which the block is slidably releasably engaged, a downwardly facing shoulder on said block, and a retaining terminal on said track member engaging said shoulder.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, said block having a downward extension with said shoulder on the bottom of said extension, said extension having an opening therethrough, said front wall having an opening from said slot aligned with said opening in said extension, a card-retaining rod extending into the tray through said openings and having'a head member on the front end of the rod, and means on said extension and on said head member quick-releasably retaining said head member in place on the extension.

6. An assembly according to claim 1, said sidewalls having resiliently flexible lower portions assuring nonbinding cooperation with track means in a cabinet into and out of which the assembly may be maneuvered by manipulation of said pull member.

7. A card catalogue tray construction comprising:

a unitary molded plastic tray body having upright front, side and rear walls, and a bottom wall;

pull means on said front wall;

card-holding means within the tray body over said bottom wall;

at least lower portions of said sidewalls being of hollow downwardly opening structure comprising inner wall panels integral with said bottom wall and outer panels spaced from said inner panels; and

reinforcing means on the upper portions of said sidewall panels connecting them and leaving lower portions of the outer panels of the sidewalls free whereby said lower portions are resiliently flexible relative to said bottom wall and said inner panels.

, 8.'A card catalogue tray construction comprising:

a tray body having front, side and rear walls, and a bottom wall;

card-holding means within said tray body and over said bottom wall comprising a rigid track adjustably supporting a card holding block device and said track being movable into position in and removable from the tray by simple manual maneuvering; and

quick releasable means for retaining the track in the tray comprising a directly digitally operable latch having means engaging the track and said bottom wall.

9. A construction according to claim 8, said track having a bottom panel and at least one side marginal overhanging flange, said bottom panel and said bottom wall having aligned circular openings therein, said latch having a cylindrical latching lug engaged in said openings and a latch arm overlying said panel and having a terminal portion engageable under said overhanging flange and releasable therefrom by swinging said arm through turning of said lug.

10. A construction according to claim 9, said arm being resiliently flexible toward and away from said panel and being supported thereon in slightly spaced overhanging relation thereto, said terminal portion comprising an upwardly projecting detent lug, and said overhanging flange having a slightly downturned keeper edge with which said detent lug is snappingly engageable and from which it is snappingly disengageable by flexing of said arm in the swinging thereof by turning of said latching lug.

11. A card catalogue tray assembly comprising:

a tray body having upright front, side and rear walls, and a bottom wall;

card-holding means within said tray body and between said front and rear walls;

a downwardly opening groove in said front wall having a forwardly opening narrower vertical slot;

a finger-pull extending from said slot and having a block slidably engaged within said groove from below; and means retaining the block against downward displacement from within said groove.

12. An assembly according to claim ll, said card-holding means comprising a track member having a front end terminal portion. said block having a downwardly facing shoulder. and said track terminal portion engaging said shoulder and comprising said means for retaining the block,

13. An assembly according to claim 11, said block and said front wall having confronting upwardly convergently tapering frictional gripping surfaces engaging to hold the block firmly in its fully assembled relation within said groove.

14. An assembly according to claim 11, said block having a portion extending downwardly below said finger-pull and provided with an opening from front to rear therethrough, said front wall having an opening in alignment with said opening in said downward extension, a card-retaining rod extending through said openings and having a retainer head on its outer end portion, said block portion having keeper structure at said opening, said retainer head having detent finger structure engageable with said keeper structureto retain the head in place,

and biasing means carried by said block and releasably retaining said detent structure and said keeper structure engaged.

15. An assembly according to claim 14, said detent structure comprising finger means projecting downwardly at the inner rear side of said head, said keeper structure comprising a horizontal bar on the lower side of said opening in said block portion, said biasing means comprising a split ring member, said block having means on its inner side-mounting said ring member with its ends upwardly and its perimeter extending downwardly to press yieldably against said head.

16. A card catalogue tray comprising, in combination:

a one-piece plastic tray shell having a bottom wall, upstanding front, back and sidewalls integral with said bottom wall and together forming a continuous inner surface for said shell;

said bottom wall having a channel recess extending from the front wall to the backwall;

said front wall having a hollow space opening forwardly and rearwardly in alignment with said recess;

a track member mounted in said recess and having a card backup block assembled in longitudinally adjustable relation therewith;

means holding a rear end portion of said track member in place in said recess; 1

a finger-pull extending forwardly from said front wall and having a base block received and secured in said hollow space; and

said block and a front end portion of said track member having means cooperating in retaining said front end portion in said recess.

17. A card catalogue tray according to claim 16, including a card-retaining rod extending in spaced relation above said track and having a head assembled on its forward end mounted in said hollow space under said finger-pull contiguous to said block and cooperating with said block flush with the outer face of said front wall.

18. A card catalogue tray according to claim 17, said block having a lower portion releasably interconnected with and concealed from the front of the front wall by said head.

19. A card catalogue tray according to claim 16, said bottom wall having horizontal portions thereof offset upwardly from the bottom of and located along each side of said channel recess, said upstanding walls having hollow downwardly opening double panel construction in their lower portions and with the bottom wall at an elevation above the lower edges of the inside panels of the upstanding walls, said channel recess being in longitudinally extending central flat-bottomed rib comprising a depressed part of said bottom wall, and a pattern of transverse and diagonal reinforcing strut ribs on the bottom surface of said bottom wall and attached to and extending between said inside panels of said upright walls and said central rib.

20. A card catalogue tray according to claim 16, said backwall having a hollow lower portion including an inner wall panel, said inner wall panel having downwardly facing shoulder means thereon overlying and retaining said rear end portion of said track member against upward displacement from said recess.

21. A card catalogue tray assembly comprising:

a tray body having upright front, side and rear walls, and a bottom wall;

card-holding means within said tray body and between said front and rear walls and including a rod having ahead at said front wall;

said front wall having a recess above said rod head;

a finger-pull including a pull mounting block which is received in said recess with the pull accessible above said rod head for digital grasping to manipulate the tray assembly; and means retaining said mounting block in said recess in assembly with said front wall. 22. An assembly according to claim 21, said finger-pull projecting forwardly from an outer face of said front wall and said pull block having a front face substantially flush with said outer face.

23. A card catalogue tray assembly comprising: a tray body having upright front, side and rear walls, and a bottom wall;

card holding means within said tray body and between said front and rear walls including a longitudinally extending card-retaining rod having a front end manipulating block thereon;

said front wall having a recess therein within which said block is received and from which the block is adapted to be withdrawn to manipulate said rod;

keeper means located in said recess;

detent means on said block releasably engageable with said keeper means to retain the block in said recess;

readily replaceable resilient biasing means pushing against said block and in opposition to which the block is adapted to be manipulated to release said detent means from said keeper means; and

means containing said biasing means and enabling access thereto for replacement when said block is withdrawn from said recess.

24. An assembly according to claim 23, said recess having a portion extending upwardly from the position occupied by said block when said keeper means and said detent means are interengaged, and said containing means being located in said upwardly extending portion of the recess.

25. An assembly according to claim 24, said containing means comprising a pull block removably engaged in said upwardly extending portion of the recess and retained against removal when said manipulating block is in its position in said recess.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 598, 461 Dated August 10, 197].

Inventor(s) Lorraine Jensen Grau and Neil S. Collins It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading [72] for "Niles" read Batavia. In Column 1, line 46 for "detachable" read detachably--;

Column 2, line 17 for "VI-IV" read --VI-VI--; Column 7, line 62 after "against" read "unintentional";

Column 8, line 6 delete "finger".

Signed and sealed this 21 st day of March 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.F'LETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents -'ORM P0-1050 (IO-6 USCOMM-DC 03754 10 I I I I M1 

1. A card catalogue tray assembly comprising: a one-piece molded plastic tray having upright front, side and rear walls, and a bottom wall; card holding means including a member separably mounted in said tray; directly digitally releasable means operable to retain said holding means partially in place in said tray; a pull member and means on said front wall and said pull member separably mounting the pull member and responsive to manipulation of the pull member itself to release the pull member for removal from the front wall; and means on said card-holding means member and said pull member mutually cooperating to complete retention of the card-holding means in the tray and functioning to lock the pull member against unintentional displacement relative to said front wall and being releasable by manipulation of said card-holding means member when said digitally releasable means have been released; whereby said card-holding means and said pull member are adapted for assembly with and removal from said tray body without the use of any tools.
 2. An assembly according to claim 1, said digitally releasable means member and comprising a latch member, and said card-holding means and said tray body having means cooperating retainingly with said latch member.
 3. An assembly according to claim 1, said card-holding means member comprising a longitudinal track adjustably supporting a card backup block device, said digitally releasable means comprising overhanging shoulder structure on said rear wall and a rear end portion of the track engaged under said shoulder structure against upward displacement and from which the track is releasable by direct digital releasing movement, said directly digital releasable means in addition comprising a directly digitally releasable latch member with means on the latch member and the track and said bottom wall cooperating to retain the track against longitudinal displacement relative to the tray.
 4. An assembly according to claim 1, said card-holding means member comprising a longitudinal track supporting a card backup block device, said pull member comprising a T-block and said front wall having a downwardly and forwardly opening T-groove in which the block is slidably releasably engaged, a downwardly facing shoulder on said block, and a retaining terminal on said track member engaging said shoulder.
 5. An assembly according to claim 4, said block having a downward extension with said shoulder on the bottom of said extension, said extension having an opening therethrough, said front wall having an opening from said slot aligned with said opening in said extension, a card-retaining rod extending into the tray through said openings and having a head member on the front end of the rod, and means on said extension and on said head member quick-releasably retaining said head member in place on the extension.
 6. An assembly according to claim 1, said sidewalls having resiliently flexible lower portions assuring nonbinding cooperation with track means in a cabinet into and out of which the assembly may be maneuvered by manipulation of said pull member.
 7. A card catalogue tray construction comprising: a unitary molded plastic tray body having upright front, side and rear walls, and a bottom wall; pull means on said front wall; card-holding means within the tray body over said bottom wall; at least lower portions of said sidewalls being of hollow downwardly opening structure comprising inner wall panels integral with said bottom wall and outer panels spaced from said inner panels; and reinforcing means on the upper portions of said sidewall panels connecting them and leaving lower portions of the outer panels of the sidewalls free whereby said lower portions are resiliently flexible relative to said bottom wall and said inner panels.
 8. A card catalogue tray construction comprising: a tray body having front, side and rear walls, and a bottom wall; card-holding means within said tray body and over said bottom wall comprising a rigid track adjustably supporting a card holding block device and said track being movable into position in and removable from the tray by simple manual maneuvering; and quick releasable means for retaining the track in the tray comprising a directly digitally operable latch having means engaging the track and said bottom wall.
 9. A construction according to claim 8, said track having a bottom panel and at least one side marginal overhanging flange, said bottom panel and said bottom wall having aligned circular openings therein, said latch having a cylindrical latching lug engaged in said openings and a latch arm overlying said panel and having a terminal portion engageable under said overhanging flange and releasable therefrom by swinging said arm through turning of said lug.
 10. A construction according to claim 9, said arm being resiliently flexible toward and away from said panel and being supported thereon in slightly spaced overhanging relation thereto, said terminal portion comprising an upwardly projecting detent lug, and said overhanging flange having a slightly downturned keeper edge with which said detent lug is snappingly engageable and from which it is snappingly disengageable by flexing of said arm in the swinging thereof by turning of said latching lug.
 11. A card catalogue tray assembly comprising: a tray body having upright front, side and rear walls, and a bottom wall; card-holding means within said tray body and between said front and rear walls; a downwardly opening groove in said front wall having a forwardly opening narrower vertical slot; a finger-pull extending from said slot and having a block slidably engaged within said groove from below; and means retaining the block against downward displacement from within said groove.
 12. An assembly according to claim 11, said card-holding means comprising a track member having a front end terminal portion, said block having a downwardly facing shoulder, and said track terminal portion engaging said shoulder and comprising said means for retaining the block.
 13. An assembly according to claim 11, said block and said front wall having confronting upwardly convergently tapering frictional gripping surfaces engaging to hold the block firmly in its fully assembled relation within said groove.
 14. An assembly according to claim 11, said block having a portion extending downwardly below said finger-pull and provided with an opening from front to rear therethrough, said front wall having an opening in alignment with said opening in said downward extension, a card-retaining rod extending through said openings and having a retainer head on its outer end portion, said block portion having keeper structure at said opening, said retainer head having detent finger structure engageable with said keeper structure to retain the head in place, and biasing means carried by said block and releasably retaining said detent structure and said keeper structure engaged.
 15. An assembly according to claim 14, said detent structure comprising finger means projecting downwardly at the inner rear side of said head, said keeper structure comprising a horizontal bar on the lower side of said opening in said block portion, said biasing means comprising a split ring member, said block having means on its inner side mounting said ring member with its ends upwardly and its perimeter extending downwardly to press yieldably against said head.
 16. A card catalogue tray comprising, in combination: a one-piece plastic tray shell having a bottom wall, upstanding front, back and sidewalls integral with said bottom wall and together forming a continuous inner surface for said shell; said bottom wall having a channel recess extending from the front wall to the backwall; said front wall having a hollow space opening forwardly and rearwardly in alignment with said recess; a track member mounted in said recess and having a card Backup block assembled in longitudinally adjustable relation therewith; means holding a rear end portion of said track member in place in said recess; a finger-pull extending forwardly from said front wall and having a base block received and secured in said hollow space; and said block and a front end portion of said track member having means cooperating in retaining said front end portion in said recess.
 17. A card catalogue tray according to claim 16, including a card-retaining rod extending in spaced relation above said track and having a head assembled on its forward end mounted in said hollow space under said finger pull contiguous to said block and cooperating with said block flush with the outer face of said front wall.
 18. A card catalogue tray according to claim 17, said block having a lower portion releasably interconnected with and concealed from the front of the front wall by said head.
 19. A card catalogue tray according to claim 16, said bottom wall having horizontal portions thereof offset upwardly from the bottom of and located along each side of said channel recess, said upstanding walls having hollow downwardly opening double panel construction in their lower portions and with the bottom wall at an elevation above the lower edges of the inside panels of the upstanding walls, said channel recess being in longitudinally extending central flat-bottomed rib comprising a depressed part of said bottom wall, and a pattern of transverse and diagonal reinforcing strut ribs on the bottom surface of said bottom wall and attached to and extending between said inside panels of said upright walls and said central rib.
 20. A card catalogue tray according to claim 16, said backwall having a hollow lower portion including an inner wall panel, said inner wall panel having downwardly facing shoulder means thereon overlying and retaining said rear end portion of said track member against upward displacement from said recess.
 21. A card catalogue tray assembly comprising: a tray body having upright front, side and rear walls, and a bottom wall; card-holding means within said tray body and between said front and rear walls and including a rod having a head at said front wall; said front wall having a recess above said rod head; a finger-pull including a pull mounting block which is received in said recess with the pull accessible above said rod head for digital grasping to manipulate the tray assembly; and means retaining said mounting block in said recess in assembly with said front wall.
 22. An assembly according to claim 21, said finger-pull projecting forwardly from an outer face of said front wall and said pull block having a front face substantially flush with said outer face.
 23. A card catalogue tray assembly comprising: a tray body having upright front, side and rear walls, and a bottom wall; card holding means within said tray body and between said front and rear walls including a longitudinally extending card-retaining rod having a front end manipulating block thereon; said front wall having a recess therein within which said block is received and from which the block is adapted to be withdrawn to manipulate said rod; keeper means located in said recess; detent means on said block releasably engageable with said keeper means to retain the block in said recess; readily replaceable resilient biasing means pushing against said block and in opposition to which the block is adapted to be manipulated to release said detent means from said keeper means; and means containing said biasing means and enabling access thereto for replacement when said block is withdrawn from said recess.
 24. An assembly according to claim 23, said recess having a portion extending upwardly from the position occupied by said block when said keeper means and said detent means are interengaged, and said containing means being located in said upwardly extending portion of the recess.
 25. An assembly According to claim 24, said containing means comprising a pull block removably engaged in said upwardly extending portion of the recess and retained against removal when said manipulating block is in its position in said recess. 